Please remember,
Fort Langley Evangelical Free Church
– our LPD Church of the Week.
Thanks to Anna (Ben) Crumback at Sointula Community Church for producing the Church of the Week!
Where did you last stop in for a coffee? – or tea, if you are so inclined
If you live in a city or suburbs, chances are it was either a Tim Horton’s or a Starbucks.If you live on the Island, you may well have a local coffee shop to support, along with your local Salt Spring Coffee brew.
I often refer to churches as being either “Tim Horton’s” or “Starbucks” churches. Both offer the same “product,” but serve in a different ambiance and to a somewhat different target audience. This is good – for coffee shops and for churches.
As someone who has grown up in a Tim Horton’s culture, I was somewhat surprised to learn this week that the reputation of Tim Horton’s has dropped significantly in the eyes of Canadians. A recent Leger survey found that over the past year, Tim Horton’s has slid from 4th place to 50th place in its corporate reputation ranking – in just one year!
As Canadians, we have a sentimental connection with Tim Horton’s (though the corporation is foreign owned and the local “Tim’s” will likely be largely staffed by foreign workers), but just the same, more and more are moving on towards purchasing coffee at McDonald’s, Starbucks or the local coffee shop.
Reasons for this slide are varied – from its cutting the benefits of employees in Ontario in response to the minimum wage increase to the sense that they have changed their brew and therefore taste of their coffee. Somehow or another, “Tim’s” is just not what it used to be. Whatever the reason, their reputation – and sales have suffered.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-tim-hortons-slides-from-top-10-in-brand-reputation-survey/
In reading the account of this study, I thought of the reputation of our local churches. Were we to do a “reputation survey” in our neighbourhoods, what would the result be?
What have people’s experiences been at your church? Have they been welcomed? Do they see a correlation between our “walk” and our “talk?” Do they experience an environment of both truth and grace? These factors have more to do with our “product” than our style. People long for authenticity and also a sense of belonging to a community. No surprise – this is what we are called to. Paul, in Ephesians 4:1, prays that the people of the church at Ephesus would lives that are “worthy of their calling.” The word for “worthy” is really a reference to balanced scales – scales that reflect that faith and life are in balance.
An “Insights West” survey from 2017 provides the rankings of various professions in Canada. Highest ranked are nurses, followed by doctors and scientists. Priests/Ministers come in at 19th, after actors and journalists, and just before building contractors, lawyers and realtors. Only 18% of Canadians have a very positive opinion of Priests/Ministers and 41% have a somewhat positive opinion. Lowest ranked are politicians, at 6% and 18% respectfully.
https://insightswest.com/news/nurses-doctors-and-scientists-are-canadas-most-respected-professionals/
As churches, and as those who are privileged to be servant-leaders, we are called to better things. May our churches reflect Jesus Christ, and may we bear the aroma of Christ!
Just as Tim Horton’s may have lost its focus and may not be what we used to know, so with ministry. Our united emphasis in the EFCC for the past two years has been “Revitalize,” where we are renewing our commitment and focus on living and sharing the Gospel. This is a timely theme and a call to all of us in the EFCC. May God continue his work among us!
Here is a practical challenge to pastors and leaders, “Are You Evangelistic?” https://www.lifeway.com/pastors/2018/04/06/are-you-evangelistic/
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On a totally different note – Happy National Tartan Day! – a day to remember and pay tribute to the contribution of Scots to Canada!
As a Canadian of Scottish descent – you’re welcome 🙂
Please pray for:
